More Swatches

No really...swatches are all I'm knitting these days. I've probably explained this before, but for me a book usually goes 1) have an idea, 2) source yarn, 3) swatch and write patterns, 4) send yarn and patterns off to magical stunt knitters to turn into projects, 5) get the patterns into proper book format and have them edited, 6) get projects back and take photos, 7) more editing, 8) printing.  Now there's more to it than that (I left out the traditional 'all my ideas are crap' crisis that invariably happens somewhere in the middle), and there's some overlap (for [...]

June 23, 2017|

Suitably Matched

Way back when I was a brand new knitter (think 'had to look up how to purl because it seemed sort of tricky' level of new), I read a pattern that said something like 'cast on 24 stitches with appropriate yarn and suitably matched needles.'  And somehow I got it into my head that 'suitably matched' meant 'needles that look pretty with your yarn.'  I'll just let you imagine how well that worked out.  It's a wonder I ever got the hang of this. But that incident has left me with a tendency to grin every time my needles happen [...]

June 19, 2017|

Good Mail (oooooh, aaaaah)

Oh my goodness...my mailbox really is a happy place. That's one of Indigo Dragonfly's Tornadoz sets on Chameleon Sock in the color Cahoots.  It's an absolutely delightful merino/cashmere/silk blend, and looks absolutely beautiful knit up...wait till you see my swatch! And this is Seven Sisters Arts newest grand idea, Varigradients.  That's three skeins of their beautiful variegated yarns in varying intensities, light to dark.  In this case it's the Water Garden colorway on the Matrika base.  And oh...oh it's lovely stuff! If you want to follow along and check out all the yarns for Curls 3 (and some swatches too), [...]

June 16, 2017|

Good Mail (once again!)

So when I told you the yarn for Curls 3 was going to be awesome, I really did mean it!  I don't think I've ever assembled quite such a colorful bunch, but I'm totally loving it! Here we've got Tibetan Dream by Bijou Spun in Lilac Ombre (this is the yarn I showed you when we talked about how to get the kinks out of caked yarn...take a look at this and compare it to the pictures in that post to see what a difference it makes). And this is Silky Victoraia by Blue Moon Fiber Arts in Sugar Plum [...]

June 5, 2017|

Swatches

Oh my goodness how have I not shown you guys this... So you know how I've been showing you all sorts of yarn for Curls 3?  Yeah...well that doesn't just sit around being yarn, it gets turned into swatches.  Lots and lots and lots of swatches! That's the Squish DK by Spun Right Round in Frost (and that's a super reversible stitch, which is always lovely for curls). And then how about a bit of Magnificent DK from Knit Circus in Brass and Steam (and yes, that is a circular needle...what is the world coming to!). And last but not [...]

June 2, 2017|

Good Mail (really good!)

Don't worry...there totally are more yarns for Curls 3...I've just been so busy swatching them that I've been remiss in showing them off to you.  Let's fix that! This set is Miss Babs' Sojurn base in their German Waterways colorway.  It's made of angel wings and clouds and unicorn eyelashes as far as I can tell (or, possibly the 65% cashmere, 30% silk they list on the tag...but I think unicorn eyelashes explains the softness better).  And yes, yes it is an indulgent yarn...but really you deserve a little indulgence.  I know you do. And this is a lovely combo [...]

May 29, 2017|

Good Mail (yes, more!)

This really is one of the most enjoyable parts of any book...the yarn shower that comes at the beginning... Because really, how could you not love finding that in your mailbox?  That's the Magnificent DK base from Knit Circus in their Brass and Steam colorway, with an extra skein of the yellow that comes at the end (the KC folks are super flexible and will totally help you get the amount/color of yarn you need for whatever scheme you've cooked up!). Or this...it's just pretty much going to make your day no matter what.  I swear it just about glows!  [...]

April 16, 2017|

Good Mail (again!)

The yarn for Curls 3 keeps coming, and I swear I'm starting to worry the postman...all that squealing and jumping around is bound to scare the nice man. But really, can you blame me?  Wouldn't you make a bit of a scene if this showed up in your mailbox? That's gradient set in Lilt Sock by Trillium Fibres in the color mallow (and I'm totally digging that base...it's just delightful). Or this? That's Squish DK by Spun Right Round in the color Frost (you already know I love them...I used the same base for Circumvolute and for that purple hat [...]

April 10, 2017|

Good Mail

One of the many lovely things about this job is all the good mail it generates.  There are few things more fun to find in the mailbox than some yummy yarn.  And when it's book yarn selecting time, you get a lot of good yarn in the mail! That's Merino DK by Hedgehog Fibres in the color Construct. And that's Meridian by Seven Sisters Arts in the color Silk Road (the bundle) and Citron (the big skein). They're both for Curls 3, which will be mostly speckles and gradients.  I'm having so much fun tracking down fabulous yarns, and have [...]

March 27, 2017|
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